Derision greeted the award snub for Maida Vale's born-and-bred Bradley Wiggins by Westminster Council this week because the Olympic hero hasn't lived long enough in the borough.

Derision greeted the award snub for Maida Vale's born-and-bred Bradley Wiggins by Westminster Council this week because the Olympic hero hasn't lived long enough in the borough.

In an amazing council meeting on Wednesday, a motion to honour the 28-year-Olympic cycling ace with the freedom of the borough was withdrawn when it was going to be defeated on three ridiculous counts, according to the councillor making the proposal.

The first was that the man who lived at Dibden House, Maida Vale, for more than half his life, and went to St Augustine's School, and whose mother still lives in Westminster, 'only spent a brief period of his life in Westminster' as voiced on the floor of the chamber.

The second was the man who has promised to try and win more medals in 2012, should sign up to the council's PR exercise to promote the London Games to earn his honour.

And the third is that Wiggins' gong should be downgraded to a plaque - because that's what Sir Roger Bannister got for training to break the legendary four-minute mile at Paddington Recreation Ground.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg branded the snub as nothing more than political point-scoring.

The Labour councillor withdrew his motion when he realised the Conservative majority were lining up behind a 'wrecking' amendment to OK the plaque instead.

He said: "The Conservatives have turned this episode into a political football.

"The point is they have missed the reason we want to honour Bradley Wiggins. There is no spin here - three Olympic golds speak for themselves.

"Or is it because the Conservatives don't think Wiggins is grand enough for the award?"

Dimoldenberg was forewarned about his efforts when he tried to get the motion put to a free vote - but got turned down there as well.

Sources close to Wiggins reckoned he wasn't bothered about missing out on the honour.

The source said: "I'm sure he would have liked it. He agreed quite happily to accept it, but he's got more important things to think about in his cycling career.

"Knowing Bradley, he might have been more upset if he had been snubbed by Paul Weller when asking for his autograph." * SEE 'Warbo's Word' on page 35. What do you think?